Plaintiff commenced this action pursuant to Section 205(g) of the Social Security Act ("the Act"), as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), to obtain judicial review of an administrative decision of the Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare ("the Secretary") which denied his claim for disability benefits. Defendant has moved for summary judgment on the basis of the pleadings and the administrative transcript (as required by law, attached to and incorporated by reference in the answer). Only the affidavit of an attorney associated with plaintiff's attorney is submitted in opposition and even that document admits that plaintiff "does not have too much dispute with the factual situation as set forth" by defendant.

On March 13, 1973 plaintiff (sub. nom. Ronald J. Richards, Soc. Sec. No. 106-28-7836) filed an application for a period of disability and for disability insurance benefits. The impairment or disability was set forth as "back injury". The Social Security Administration denied this application initially November 30, 1973 and on reconsideration March 13, 1974. At plaintiff's request, a hearing was held July 16, 1974.The Administrative Law Judge denied plaintiff's application in a decision rendered January 17, 1975 and this determination became the final decision of the Secretary when it was affirmed by the Appeals Council July 28, 1975.

Plaintiff, a man of 40 years, alleges that he has been unable to engage in any substantial gainful employment since July 17, 1972 due to a back injury which he sustained in a fall which occurred January 10, 1970 in the course of his work as a railroad brakeman.
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On April 12, 1971, Dr. Dogan M. Perese, a neurosurgeon who had treated the plaintiff since 1962, examined plaintiff and concluded that there was evidence of degenerative cervical and lumbar disc herniation. Plaintiff was hospitalized the same day. Dr. Perese concluded in a follow-up examination conducted May 28, 1971 that plaintiff then was capable of returning to his usual work.

Plaintiff, complaining of headaches and neck, shoulder and lumbosacral pain, was again examined by Dr. Perese March 17, 1972. The physician concluded that evidence of lumbar and cervical root irritation continued and suggested that plaintiff restrict his activities.

On March 30, 1972 plaintiff was examined by Dr. Benjamin E. Obletz, an orthopedic surgeon, at his employer's request. Based on a physical examination of the plaintiff and on his medical history, Dr. Obletz concluded that he had a partial disability in the lumbar spine but was capable of doing selective work.

After being again examined by Dr. Perese June 30, 1972, plaintiff was hospitalized with a diagnosis of lumbar neuropathy. Subsequent to his discharge in August, Dr. Perese concluded that plaintiff suffered from a lumbar disc herniation.

Plaintiff was again hospitalized in September of 1972 and exploratory and remedial surgery was performed. Plaintiff made a satisfactory recovery from this operation. In December of 1972 plaintiff complained of numbness of the thumb and index fingers as well as of pain in the lumbar region after he had been hunting. Dr. Perese noted that it was not unusual to have periodic finger numbness due to irritation of the nerve root in the cervical spine and no treatment was recommended.

Dr. Perese next examined plaintiff January 31, 1973 and it was his opinion at that time that plaintiff could return to work within two weeks. Plaintiff attempted to do so but, following a physical examination, his employer refused to rehire him.
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He claims that his subsequent attempts to secure a job proved fruitless and that potential employers would not hire him due to his partial disability.

In March of 1973 plaintiff told Dr. Perese that his only complaint was of "slight discomfort" in the lumbar region. On July 25, 1973 plaintiff told the physician that he was feeling well and had no pain or discomfort. On September 26, 1973 plaintiff told Dr. John A. Repicci, an orthopedic surgeon, that he had had occasional lumbar pain with radiation into his left leg and frequent episodes of neck discomfort; on that day, however, he was reasonably comfortable and without any particular distress. On October 29, 1973 plaintiff related to Dr. Perese that he had "some discomfort" in the lumbar region, especially at night when he had difficulty in sleeping. Dr. Perese opined that plaintiff was capable of doing light to moderately heavy work. Dr. Repicci concluded that plaintiff had a partial disability of a mild degree and then was employable but noted that he would have some difficulty in extremely heavy work requiring excessive bending. Dr. Repicci suggested that plaintiff not lift more than 35 pounds. Neither doctor noted anything objectively wrong with plaintiff. (Exhibits 27 and 28.) Dr. Joseph M. Dziob, the plant doctor at Bethlehem Steel Corporation and a general surgeon and specialist in occupational medicine, indicated in a note dated December 5, 1973 that plaintiff had undergone surgery for a degenerative disc disease and was able to work but could not lift heavy objects or run or jump or continuously stoop or bend. He concluded that plaintiff was partially and permanently disabled. Dr. Perese concurred with these conclusions and reported January 19, 1974 that the plaintiff was capable of lifting and carrying 25 pounds, could bend and stoop about ten times per hour and could run and jump to a moderate degree. Although requested, Dr. Perese set forth no results of any myelogram showing the ruptured cervical disc claimed by plaintiff and no physical findings showing spinal motion defects. He said that there was no present symptomatology referable to cervical spine pathology and that plaintiff's prognosis was fair. (Exhibit 29.) Plaintiff complained to Dr. Perese February 27, 1974 of "recurrent attacks of neck and shoulder pain and pain in the lumbar region" and the physician noted a moderate degree of muscle spasm in the cervical and lumbar areas and concluded that there still was a showing of evidence of nerve root irritation in plaintiff's cervical and lumbar regions and concluded that plaintiff could do light work but should restrict his activities. (Exhibit 36.) Plaintiff conceded at the hearing that he is only partially disabled and is capable of performing restrictive work activities.
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The scope of judicial review of the Secretary's decision is limited. Franklin v. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, 393 F.2d 640 (2d Cir. 1968). Section 205(g) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 405(g), provides that the factual findings of the Secretary, if supported by substantial evidence, are conclusive. The issue then before this Court is whether the decision of the Secretary denying plaintiff's claim for disability benefits is supported by substantial evidence on the record as a whole. Fuerst v. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, 354 F. Supp. 185 (S.D.N.Y.1973). The Supreme Court has construed substantial evidence to be "more than a mere scintilla" and to mean "such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Consolidated Edison Co. v. National Labor Relations Board, 305 U.S. 197, 229, 59 S. Ct. 206, 217, 83 L. Ed. 126 (1938); Richardson v. Perales, 402 U.S. 389, 401, 91 S. Ct. 1420, 28 L. Ed. 2d 842 (1971).

Section 223(d)(2)(A) of the Act, 42 U.S.C. § 423(d)(2)(A), provides that an individual is disabled only if his physical or mental impairment or impairments are of such severity that he cannot, taking into consideration his age, education and work experience, engage in any kind of substantial gainful work which exists anywhere in the national economy despite the absence of a specific job vacancy for such individual or whether such individual would be hired.
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The four elements of proof to be considered interrelatedly in determining whether a claimant is disabled within the meaning of the Act are (1) objective medical facts or clinical findings, (2) diagnoses of examining physicians, (3) subjective evidence of pain and disability, and (4) the claimant's age, education and employment history. DePaepe v. Richardson, 464 F.2d 92, 94 (5th Cir. 1972); Underwood v. Ribicoff, 298 F.2d 850, 851 (4th Cir. 1962).

I find that there is substantial evidence in the record as a whole to support the Secretary's factual findings and his decision to deny a period of disability and disability benefits to plaintiff. The doctors who have examined the plaintiff all agree that he is only partially disabled and is able to work, albeit in a limited capacity. Plaintiff admitted at the hearing that he is only partially disabled. His physical impairment, in the context of his age, education and work experience, does not prevent him ...

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